Things to Do in Quebec City With Kids

Disclosure: We were provided complimentary lodging and activities during our stay in Quebec City. In addition, the CVB helped us identify what to do with kids in Quebec City. All opinions are our own. Affiliate links within. Purchasing and/or clicking on some of the links in this post helps support Family Travel Magazine®.

I’ve been to Quebec City in the past, but never with my children. When my husband and I visited, we were content just walking around the city, shopping and hanging out at cafes. But with my kids in tow, I wanted to make sure that they had both an educational and an entertaining trip. Although we were only there for three nights (I’d recommend at least four), we still were able to see and do so many great things. There’s so many great things to do in Quebec City with kids – here are a few of our favorite Quebec City attractions and activities for families. (Note: We went in the summer, when the Quebec City weather was warm and comfortable. There are lots of things to do in the winter in Quebec City as well – specifically the Quebec City winter carnival).

Things to Do in Quebec City with Kids: Quebec City Family Attractions

We only had the chance to spend a few minutes at the Musee National Des Beaux-Arts Du Quebec, and my kids were begging to return. The buildings themselves are a reason to visit. When the museum outgrew the original Gérard-Morisset Building, they expanded into the adjacent Charles-Baillairgé Building – a former prison. Some of the original cells remain, and my kids loved getting a look at the tiny little rooms. The two buildings are joined by a new building – pictured here – which serves as the main entrance.

The museum features permanent collections and exhibits, and also offers kids’ programming and camps. They are currently showing an Alfred Pellan exhibit, which my kids loved taking a quick peek at. It sits on National Battlefields Park (also known as the Plains of Abraham). If you are visiting Quebec with kids, it’s definitely worth a visit. We’d love to return for a longer visit.

The highlight of our visit was Abraham’s Bus and the Odyssey experience at the Plains of Abraham. The Odyssey, which is three different interactive movies and a series of exhibits, brings history to life. My kids were actually fascinated learning about the history of the plains, Quebec City, and Canada. I would highly recommend a visit here.. While you are visiting, make sure you also take a ride on Abraham’s Bus. This tour through the park is guided by “Abraham”, who infuses his tour with humor and interaction. It’s relatively short too – about 45 minutes – so it kept my kids’ attention. Tours are available in both French and English.

Located along the waterfront in the old city, the Musee de la Civilisation offers lots of kid-friendly interactive exhibits. My kids loved playing in the permanent “Game Story Exhibit”, which features video games across the years (they couldn’t believe that the old-looking Commodore 64 was THE computer to have when mommy and daddy were kids).

The Discovery Zone, in the basement, is the most kid-friendly part of the museum. We spent a lot of time in the Earth’s Unveiled room, where my kids were able to see first hand what tornadoes and earthquakes are like. The other area of the Discovery Zone is the Once Upon a Time section – a fun area where kids can play dress up with some very detailed, beautiful costumes. Guests are required to sign up for a specific time to visit, and we didn’t have enough time to do it. If you are looking for family activities in Quebec City during especially hot or cold weather, this is a good spot to check out.

You’ll need a car (or book a bus tour) to visit Montmorency Falls, but it’s worth the trip. In my opinion, it’s one of the best things to do Quebec City because it’s so unique. The falls, which are taller than Niagara Falls, are gorgeous, and the park is a fun place to visit. You can take a gondola (or walk 460 steps) to the top, and stand right over the top of the falls. There’s also a restaurant on the top, and starting this year, guests can repel down the side of the cliff (inquire in advance of your visit). We spent a while here, and enjoy walking down the stairs, checking out the falls at the various vantage points. It’s only about 10-15 minutes outside of the old city.

If you are looking for things to do in Quebec City with kids, you absolutely cannot miss a trip to Benjo, a large toy store located in the lower part of the old city. It’s an especially great thing to do in Quebec City when it rains, because it also offers a kids-friendly cafe and a small craft studio. On the weekends, kids can take a train ride throughout the store. My kids didn’t want to leave – they enjoyed playing with the interactive toys and making their very own stuffed animals. We chatted with the manager of the store, and learned about how Benjo thoughtfully sources all of their toys through three buyers. Boxes are translated into French as necessary. The staff is so friendly and helpful, and there are many different demo and display toys that the kids can play and interact with (including a fun robot). There’s also a family cafe.

If you enter through the main entrance of the store (which is actually the back), kids can use their very own VIP entrance and pose with a statue of Benjo (a frog). Benjo also offers a fall magic event, with magicians visiting from all over the world. It’s definitely a fun place to visit in Quebec City – your kids will definitely remember it!

Lower City

Families wondering what to do in Quebec City will definitely want to visit the lower city during your trip. It’s home to many popular shops and restaurants in the city, along with several museums (including the Musee de la Civilisation). As the name implies, it is located below the main part of the old city, and you can either take the stairs or ride the Funiculaire, an inclined glass elevator that travels up and down between the upper and lower cities (for $2.50 per person). Of course, I’d recommend walking down and taking the Funiculaire up – it’s a LOT of stairs.

We were in Quebec City over the Fourth of July holiday, and it was pretty hot. So we were happy to take a break from walking around the city to ride on the Louis-Jolliet, a sightseeing boat that travels down the St. Lawrence River. The tour is guided by Louis-Jolliet himself (or, rather, a guide dressed to look like him), who speaks both in English and French. It lasts about an hour and a half, and goes as far as the Montmorency Falls before turning around. The boat offers a bar along with light fare and a gift shop. I definitely recommend it as a way to see in the city from a different perspective.

There were lots of other great things to do in Quebec City that we missed out on. The Aquarium was highly recommended to us – we just didn’t have the time to visit. Another spot that I’d wished we had visited is the Citadel, where they hold a daily changing of the guard at 10am. Although we were able to see a lot, we missed a lot too – we’ll definitely have to return again soon.

If you are looking to book tours in Quebec City, here are a few options:

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Oh my goodness those falls are absolutely gorgeous! I could easily spend the day wandering around there, and repelling too! It would probably take some time to work up the nerve but I bet it would be a blast.

Hi Jodi. Great article. Like you and your husband, my wife and I have been to Quebec City before having kids and LOVED it. Now, years later, we are planning on going back next year with our kids. Were you able to find any casual gourmet restaurants that were both family friendly and fun for the foodie parents? Thanks.

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About Jodi Grundig

Jodi Grundig has loved traveling since she was a little girl. She started blogging in 2007 on her popular review site Mom's Favorite Stuff and after doing quite a bit of family traveling, decided to launch her own travel blog. Jodi resides in Massachusetts with her husband, eleven-year old son, thirteen-year old daughter, and Havanese dog. Read More…